Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
59,753
as of December 5, 2023

<< Back to the fan club


Search Past News:

Sort by Relevance Date

Yesterday's News:

12.04.23New ApX Shirts, Hoodies, Caps, Mugs & Stickers
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.02.23How to Donate Online or by Mail
12.02.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.02.23New Shirts & Other ApX Merch Coming Soon
12.02.23How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
12.02.23Get Over 1600 Tracks for $100
12.02.23New USB Thumb Drives Include Next CD
12.02.23Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
12.02.23Samson Rock Opera CD: BOGO & Program Book
12.02.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.28.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.28.23New Christmas Single: All '80s
11.24.23Influential Albums: 1290-1296
11.24.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.24.23Clues for 2023 Single #24
11.16.23All 71 ApX CDs Available as Downloads for $9.99 Each
11.16.23Influential Albums: 1283-1289
11.16.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
11.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.12.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.12.23New Single: #1 Hits from '81 & '86
11.09.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.09.23Influential Albums: 1276-1282
11.09.23From a Nutty New Fan to an Avid Bible Reader
11.06.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.03.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.02.23BOGO Deal on New CD Ends Saturday
11.02.23Influential Albums: 1269-1275
11.02.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
10.30.23This Week's News Bulletin
10.30.23New Single: '76 & '83
10.27.23Clues for 2023 Single #22
10.27.23Influential Albums: 1262-1268
10.27.23Next Up: Get Ready for Our Samson Rock Opera CD
10.27.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
10.23.23This Week's News Bulletin
10.20.23Influential Albums: 1255-1261
10.20.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
10.19.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
10.15.23This Week's News Bulletin
10.15.23New Single: First Half of the '80s Revisited
10.13.23Influential Albums: 1248-1254
10.13.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
10.13.23Clues for 2023 Single #21
10.12.23All About Our Next CD
10.12.23What's on Our Next CD?
10.09.23This Week's News Bulletin
10.06.23Influential Albums: 1241-1247
10.06.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
10.06.23All About Our Upcoming CD, Just Reword
10.06.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
10.02.23This Week's News Bulletin
10.02.23New Single: 1987 & 2001
09.29.23Influential Albums: 1234-1240
09.29.23Let's Talk About the Next Four ApX CDs
09.29.23Prayers for Cowboy Bob
09.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
09.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
09.23.23Influential Albums: 1227-1233
09.23.23Prayers for Jeff Jennings
09.22.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Wk
09.22.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
09.19.23This Week's News Bulletin
09.19.23New Single: '64 & '91
09.14.23Influential Albums: 1220-1226
09.14.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Wk
09.14.23Happy Birthday to ApX Guitarist Tom Tincha
09.14.23Clues for 2023 Single #19
09.10.23This Week's News Bulletin
09.08.23Happy Birthday to ApX Guitarist Wayne Bartley
09.07.23Influential Albums: 1213-1219
09.07.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
09.07.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Wk
09.05.23New Single: '65 & '85
09.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
08.31.23Influential Albums: 1206-1212
08.31.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Wk
08.31.23Prayers for ApX Fan's Son
08.31.23Clues for 2023 Single #18
08.30.23Septuagint CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
08.28.23ApologetiX Needs Help & Prayers
08.24.23Encouragement from 14 States + Canada & Hungary
08.24.23Influential Albums: 1192-1198
08.24.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
08.23.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
08.20.23This Week's News Bulletin
08.20.23New Single: '77 & '84
08.20.23New CD BOGO Ends Wednesday
08.18.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
08.18.23Influential Albums: 1192-1198
08.17.23Clues for 2023 Single #17
08.14.23This Week's News Bulletin
08.10.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
08.10.23Influential Albums: 1185-1191
08.09.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
08.07.23This Week's News Bulletin

The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
Thu., Mar. 9. 2023 3:17pm EST

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.

Here are the stories behind the songs on our fifth single of 2023:

ELIJAH'S LAMENT

Remember when Elijah battled the prophets of Baal and called fire down from heaven in 1 Kings 18? Remember how he called for a drought in 1 Kings 17 that lasted three years and then he accurately predicted a heavy rain in 1 Kings 18? Well, if we remember all that, why does it seem like Elijah forgot?

Despite those miracles, he still ran away from Jezebel when she vowed to kill him in 1 Kings 19. Then again, how many times do I see God answer my prayers dramatically, yet find myself stressing about something else soon after? And I suppose many of us have felt at some point that we were the only ones left who were still trying to follow the LORD.

I started my first version of this parody in '92 or '93, and it was finished by the mid-'90s. The title remains, but I rewrote every single line of the lyrics in 2023. "Fire and Rain" seemed Taylor-made for Elijah, since he did shower the people with both. He even called fire down from heaven two more times in 2 Kings 1.

We now have songs for three chapters in a row written from Elijah's perspective: "Last Rain the Clouds Spill" (1 Kings 17) and "I've Got Elijah Fightin' Baal (1 Kings 18) are the others.

Tom Milnes played guitars on this one. His wife, Barb, is a James Taylor fan. It's not every day you've got a friend in the band whose spouse likes the artist you're covering. Rich Mannion took care of all other instrumentation; he's a handy man to have around. I wish I could've seen your smiling face as your read those puns.


E.Z.KIEL (2023)

The original version of the song we spoofed here was called "Susie-Q" and was recorded by Dale Hawkins in 1957. It went to #27 on the pop chart. Creedence Clearwater Revival redid it as "Suzie Q." in 1968, and it became their first hit single, just missing the Top 10 (#11).

We released our parody, "E.Z.Kiel," in 1994, but it really needed redone, too! I got tired of turning down Jerry Hutchinson at Angel 95 FM whenever he'd suggest playing our '94 version on the weekly ApologetiX with an X radio show, so I finally did something about it.

CCR's version of "Suzie Q." has an eerie, otherworldly feel to it, and that was perfect for this song about the prophet Ezekiel's initial vision by the Chebar/Kebar River, as recounted in the first chapter of the book that bears his name.

Speaking of spooky, some of our older fans may remember the old '60s sci-fi television show The Outer Limits and its famous intro: "There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission." In a similar vein, let me say, "There is nothing wrong with your stereo. Do not attempt to adjust the balance. We are replicating Creedence Clearwater Revival."

What do I mean by that? Well, CCR gradually panned the drums in the intro of "Suzie Q." from the left speaker to the right, while moving the vocals from the right speaker in the first verse to the left speaker in the second verse and back to the right in the third verse. So that's what we did, too.